The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1869.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue IV, 28 December 1869, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1869.

English Mail. — We learn that the Omeo, with the English Mail on board, arrived at the Bluff this morning. We notice that a reduction has taken place in the price of Flour which is now quoted by Messrs. 'N. Edwards & Co. at £14 per ton. : Drawing Room Entertainment: — This entertainment which was given at the Temperance Hall last night was well attended and the views geuerally so.emed to meet with the approval of the audience. The Readings and Recitations, particularly Mons. Tonson, elicited considerable applause. To night, we understand, there are to be new views and a change in the Readings. Boat Race.- — A race which excited considerable interest among those who are nautically disposed took place in the harbor yesterday, the course being from the Government Wharf to the stranded hulk and back. The competing boats, all of which were open, were the Active, Why Not, Little Fred, and Rose. For the first half of the course the Rose looked very like the winner, but she was ultimately collared by the Little Fred which came in a winner by nearly 100 yards, the others being out of the race altogether. Caledonian Gathering. — We notice that a new style of sports is to be introduced to the Nelson public on New Years Day as our Scottish fellow settlers intend to celebrate their great holiday by games peculiar to their own country, and a capital programme has been drawn out for the occasion. The Committee have been actively engaged for the last few days in obtaining subscriptions for the purpese, but have not yet obtained a sufficient sum, we trust however that these games will be largely patronised and that all persons, of whatever country, will give their assistance towards defraying the cost of the day's amusements. The Wangapeka Difficulty. — Since Mr. Domett's decision upon this question was given, the Governmenthave naturally been anxious to discover whether or not a line from Mount Arthur to Mount Owen would bring the disputed land at Waugapeka within the South West GoldfiieMs. They therefore proposed to send Mr. Lewis to survey the line, but before doing so, wishing to give the miners an opportunity of sending some one with him, they wrote to Mr. Moss iuforming him of their intention. Mr. Moss, however, on behalf of the miners objected to this course being pursued, and expressed his opinion that the survey was premature, unnecessary, and a contravention of the implied.agreement that no action should be taken until the decision of the General Government ; was ascertained, he therefore refused to have anything to do with the survey, and sent the following telegram to the Colonial Secretary : — \- v The Superintendent is , about to survey line between Mount At 1 -, thui and Mount Owen, to ascertain if sold land within or. without Goldfield. Miners consider it breach of faith, and taking part of purchasers." Proceedings were stayedVuntil; result of Enquiry. reply." To which;, JVlr.;Gisb.orne replied ; that he had, telegraphed, to the Superini:tenaerit(;asl£ing:Vhi!m not to do any thin & | further until the oeneral Government had [considered/the I wi^lati^^^t^f<§\^f^^^Oy this we ; presumelme Supleriutendeut has acceded, fas ; ';Mr: Lew,is;has not jret started* {'.",■.'.■■■ X';-'--/;,i" : .'-!!.'/K,Ui ( li.;- : -. l ''" : '!V>;^ |; .v-.- -\ ! ■"> •■ HAKkoNic -Society's Concert.— The, | Btermonic- Society^gave- its;usual Christmas vcohcert'on, Friday T;eTenmgi;:;;;v;Thevresult ' i. :^Md>itf^ifference/- 'to^Sandej's :■*'■ Messiah" ;,-= j>mighb ; , v J^ |t)ie];com^aratii^o;>: '■;.. I^£rlp|i^

themselves did not muster in anything like their usual' 'numbers, Those who were present however showed no Jack of interest or energy. The carols, quaint . and, originul,, were well given; but.following each oih^r withriiit a break, save a iatlur .monotonous' 'ehuracfcer to tlio lust part of the concert. Li the second part the instrumental performers went well together, and each concert shows a perceptible improvement. Two fair amateurs received a well deserved encore, as did the conductor, Mr. Walcott; although the introduction of a stick accompaniment to the calls for au encore appeared to us a novelty more energetic than acceptable. To our taste Hatto'n's "Part Song" for male voices, and the concluding chorus, were the most striking features of the second part; although this would most probably not be the verdict of the majority of, the. audience. A concert of ..this nature, if given a week t>r ten days after Christmas' would in all probability be better attended; and would, we think, be less likely to interfere with other demands and avocations of the season.

A Correspondent of the Westport Times gravely proposes that those who had their property saved from the late fires, instead of giving merely cut-and-dry thanks in the advertising columns of the paper, should give "a jolly good supper" to the salvors at one of the principal hotels. . . The Grey River Argus has the following on our Railway scheme : — lt. is acknowledged on all hands that the opening up of the immense tract of country available for gokl-mining^ farming, and settlement, in the valley of the Grey, would be the inauguration of a new and better era iD the history of this District than it has ev^er known. And still, most people look upon the railway schemes, which are now being floated, as ephemeral, and which will never come to anything more than they now are. At the same time, men are earnestly at work in London, Nelson, Christchurch, and Greymouth, endeavoring to bring them to a satisfactory conclusion, and it is to be hoped, for many reasons, that they wiil be successful. It is almost superfluous to dwell at length upon the immense advantages which would be conferred upon this port by the opening up of nearly two hundred miles of , virgin country between here and the city of Nelson, and we will not find fault with the manner in which the Nelson Government propose to pay for the construction of the through line from Nelson to Cobden, for we believe it is the duty of the authorities to encourage the formation of that line, almost at any cost, so long as it is within the bounds of reason — and the terms proposed are not exorbitant, when contrasted with the probable amount of good which will be done, not only to the Province of Nelson, but also to the whole County of Westland, for once the line is brought to Cdbden, it cannot end there. It must in the ordinary nature of things, be carried on to Hokitika and over the ranges to Christchurch, where it will be joined to the Great Southern Line, proposed to-be constructed from Christchurch to Dunedin, so that the greater part of .the Middle Island will be placed in direct and speedy railway'communication. A Fe"W days ago a number of diggers while out prospecting on the beach near the Irish Lead Six-miJe, discovered the remains of au abandoned illict still. The affair was very .complete and consisted of a hut "situated over a cave- through which rau a stream of clear water. In the hut were two bunks and the remains of a table, and in the cave sundry tubs, barrels, and kegs, with any number of old sugarbags aud chemical bottles. , The distilling apparatus, however, was , missing, ; and there was no evidence of the place having been occupied for some/.time., , ; , :TYriting of ;the : expected visit of the Flying Squadron, a Wellington r: correspondent pf one of the "papers says:— -If- a ball is to* be given we shall have to invite lEome ladies, from rthe, other., Provinces to I help ;1 us,; as,; , : unless; .we ,do, .' the dancing {Certainly;' will be^OßiXyf'aila ! Why during last session,; the presence of jour raea-pf-war /in tfie i harbor so increased 'jttiVnumb^ Subscription ■ ;Bail|ft^aV ; ladjes; we're a£a fearful jprieimiubi ;^iraagine,;th!erefore ■'.^at'3opikerelwili'd.q;'. f ]' : '- : X -^December i ti^£ we^lOß ;p,u^ &shows v; that i 'tne""ae & apparent^thaii -i paJ^ AV'; : ."^..r jk-^-> • ->r ■'&%:> : ■?-:-